Solitaire by Jane Thynne – Book Review

Although this book is the fifth book in the Clara Vine series, it was the first book that I had read. Now, judging by the fact that I didn’t even realise that it was book five, that should let you know that it works perfectly well as a standalone.

The book opens with the prologue – Lisbon 1940 and Clara being arrested. We then jump back in time to chapter one and Berlin, 1940. Clara is living in Germany and working as an actress. As World War II is in its infancy, Clara feels very vulnerable. Not only was she a spy, although now she tries to keep her head down, she is also half English, half German, and Jewish by descendant.

Clara is an exceptional woman. She is grieving for her lover Leo, whom she had been told was shot and killed trying to flee the country, a lover than no-one knew about. She wants to leave Germany for the safety of England and her family, but that door has been shut tight. She has now found herself in a difficult situation, having to spy for the Germans.

Whilst I’m not a great lover of historical novels, there is something about the World Wars that intrigues me. Most books that I have read, barring one earlier this year, have all been set in the UK during the war, so it was nice to be able to see the life of those outside the UK.

The main story interweaves itself with numerous secondary plots, the main one being that of Katerina, a young girl living in a children’s home, with a crippled leg. Unless her sister Sonja can be found, Katerina is in serious danger of being killed by the Nazis. I love how these two plots fused with one another.

The prologue did its job perfectly and had me hooked. I wanted to know how Clara found herself in the situation she did in Lisbon. I wasn’t disappointed with the answer.

Ms. Thynne has done her research meticulously. She brings together all the elements of what the war was like with her vivid descriptions and scenery. She then injects the harsh life of a woman, but one who is most certainly headstrong and brave, to create this wonderful, mesmerising book.

About the Author

Jane Thynne was born in Venezuela and educated in London. She graduated from Oxford University with a degree in English and joined the BBC as a journalist.

She has also worked at The Sunday Times, The Daily Telegraph and The Independent, as well as for numerous British magazines. She appears as a broadcaster on Radio 4. Jane is married with three children and lives in London.